“It is high time we left aside the psychology of feeding the disabled with pension or benefit. If disabled people are able to work, they shall work”, mentioned Arthur Grigoryan, RA Minister of Labor and Social Affairs during the presentation of the program “Improving the standard of living of the disabled through stimulating the employment” on 21 the of March.

He added that the Government adopted a policy of assisting uncompetitive groups and stimulating the employment. However the State resources are not sufficient, so we need a joint approach and a cooperation of international and local organizations to solve the problems of the disabled.

The program that is launched today pursues an aim of stimulating the accessibility and the equal conditions of work for the disabled as a fundamental human right.

The program will be carried out in 10 communities of Yerevan, the regions of Ararat, Gegharkunik, Lori and Shirak. It would finish in 2015.

“The strategic aim of the program is to establish an efficient model of providing the disabled people with a job”, mentioned the director of the program Jina Sargizova.

While presenting the program she pointed out its main directions. The first is the assessment and the development of the abilities of the disabled. “Many equipments and tests will be imported into Armenia, which will enable us to assess the abilities of the disabled people and make the list of those works that they can do. So the assessment of the abilities of the disabled will no more take a subjective and stereotypical approach ”, thinks Sargizova.

The next step would be the development of the professional abilities of the disabled and finding a job with the assistance of employment agencies and the employer. It is also envisaged by the program to create new and accommodated workplaces for the people with special needs. “We will open a sewing workshop and a workshop of seedlings (greenhouse) where both men and women will work. And there will be no problem of sale as the Municipality of Yerevan will assist to sell the products”, mentioned the Director of the Program.

One of the aims of the program is to make and disseminate materials raise awareness of the public through cooperation with mass media, as well as to assist to the improvement to the legislative field based on best international experience and models.

Irina Saghoyan, director of the Armenian branch of “Save the Children” NGO mentioned that although the State takes certain steps and makes decisions, there still are many cases of violation of the rights of the disabled.

“The people with disabilities cannot use the means of public transportation, enter many state, educational, social and cultural establishments and institutions. Only 7-9 percent of the disabled work and this is a very low index given that many of them have lots of abilities”, said Irina Saghoyan.

According to her they will try to change the attitude of the society and the employers to the people with disabilities, so as the latter are guided by their abilities, instead of stereotypes and compassion.

“We initiated this program as we wanted to help the people with disabilities, who live on the benefits that are extremely low, though they could work and be of public benefit, to lend a helping hand to all the disabled children, who would have no future tomorrow, is today we do not prove their equal rights to study, receive a profession and work in the future”, mentioned Saghoyan, expressing her hope that the model of corporation created by the program would prove constantly.

“Improving the standard of living of the disabled through stimulating the employment” program is being carried out by “Save the Children” NGO, funded by USA Agency for International Development (USAID). The partners and collaborators of the program are various organizations engaged in problems of the disabled, RA Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, “State Employment Service” Agency, Local Government Bodies, NGOs, technical educational institutions and employees.